Auke van Dijk, Frank Hoogewoning, and Maurice Punch (2015). What Matters in Policing?: Change, Values and Leadership in Turbulent Times.

Abstract

‘What matters in policing’ provides a clear and concise articulation of the challenges that face contemporary policing organizations, and in particular the senior police leaders of these organizations. The authors draw on their knowledge of both UK and Dutch policing to clearly illustrate the competing priorities that exist in complex environments. The thoroughness of their examination makes this essential reading for police leaders and those who need to have an understanding of the vital work police do in keeping our communities safe. The authors set a clear agenda to explore issues of strategic importance by drawing attention to the fact that before policing organizations can decide what works as advocated in evidence-based policing they must answer the question of what matters . This critical question echoes the question what’s valuable that is often heard in conversations about creating public value. As a result, the discussion through the book is of great assistance to police leaders in determining what the valuable things that police should do are.